Meet the Leadership Team!

PRESIDENT

Hello! My name is Aaron Peterson. I’m from the Slopes in Phoenix, Arizona. Although my entire life is consumed by climbing, it wasn’t always that way. I was a music producer for most of my career. Surrounded by gang violence, I suffered the loss of many friends. One day my 20k dollar studio was robbed from my house. I had suffered so much loss at that point and had to get away. I cut off everyone I knew and started hiking up Camelback Mountain everyday! I had always wanted to go, but didn’t know anyone that was down.

At the time I was almost 300 pounds. I turned vegan and started running on the trails. It felt amazing! I fell in love with nature and the outdoor community. I went from one extreme to another. A few years later when I found climbing, I was immediately obsessed and spent every waking moment climbing or thinking about climbing. There’s a world of difference in the two lives I was living.

I probably wasn’t going to make it past 30 and now I’m a thriving athlete. It’s very upsetting seeing all of my people still suffering due to systemic barriers such as unequal access to jobs, housing, healthcare and education. You can’t spend all your money and time climbing if you are spending all of your time just trying to survive day to day and living check to check. We are living in a far from equal world and I want to help change that! Organizations like Climbing in Color are exactly what we need, and I love that I can be part of the team that helps change the world.

VICE PRESIDENT

Hi I'm Angela or Ángela, I answer to both and my pronouns are she/her/ella. I started climbing in 2022, One route and I was hooked. As an adult with a chronic illness disability, I didn't realize that being an athlete was an option for me until I found rock climbing. For me, rock climbing offers adventure, camaraderie and a way to be in relationship with the earth. Climbing helps build resilience and endurance mentally, physically and emotionally in ways nothing else can- I believe everyone deserves the right to experience climbing.  It isn't about reaching the top, so much as the progression and the chance to be out on the rock. I'm grateful for every opportunity to climb.

My background is in social justice and art and I joined Climbing in Color in 2023 because I believe diversity matters and that we all have a right to develop a relationship with the land. I served as president for two years, during which time we expanded the number of scholarships offered and outdoor trips taken and I now have rotated to Vice President. I work to further the mission of creating safe space for People of Color in climbing and the outdoors. 

CO-FOUNDER

Amber, she/her, found climbing when she moved to Tucson in 2017. In a new place and space, climbing was her way to spark connections with others, build strong community, and mentally and physically find sanctuary through problem solving routes, forging trust in others, and experiencing the outdoors in a completely new way.

She co-founded Climbing in Color to create a safe space for People of Color to find kinship in shared experiences. She’s so grateful for everyone who has supported CIC from its humble beginnings!

CO-FOUNDER

Ravi, he/him, grew up spending almost every day running over the trails of the luscious South. But everything changed on his first day climbing outdoors. Back then, Ravi never could’ve predicted where this new passion was going to take him - it has led him to heaven on Earth.

He didn't see a lot of people like him when he started climbing and wanted to change that. He hopes that by bringing more diversity into the sport, we can all protect and enjoy our natural spaces together.

PLANNING COORDINATOR

Tiffany, she/her, enjoys meeting new people and sharing the joys of rock climbing. She knows that for many people, it’s hard to get into climbing due to many barriers. Tiffany hopes to bridge that gap as much as she can through her work with CIC. Meaningful connection and representation are the means to true diversity.

SECRETARY

Michelle, she/her, born in the Philippines and raised in Tucson, didn’t get into climbing until a couple of friends showed her the ropes and then she went to her first CiC meet-up. She has been hooked ever since.

She joined CiC as the secretary to ensure that opportunities for climbing, getting active, and getting outdoors are shared far and wide.

FINANCE COORDINATOR / TREASURER

Zeba, she/her, started climbing about two years ago. She joined CIC soon after and found a community who was always there to support and encourage her. Climbing provides her the relaxation she needs from her hectic day job. She enjoys the physical and problem solving aspects of the sport and also loves meeting new people.

Joining CIC as a treasurer for her is a way to give back to the community.

EVENT COORDINATOR

Mike, he/him, started climbing many moons ago when his math teacher hip belayed him up the wall he had built at the international school in Saudi Arabia. He won a pair of shoes in a local comp before leaving the country and losing the shoes immediately, and stopped climbing for almost two decades. He has since returned with a newfound love for bouldering and spent the last few years traveling the world and climbing where he can (and working when he has to). While his time living around the world has let him connect with amazing people and places for climbing, he has also seen various barriers in making it accessible, safe and enjoyable for all people.

Now that he has landed in Tucson, Mike is excited to work with the Climbing in Color team to address these issues, and help support a diverse and vibrant climbing community.

DIGITAL MEDIA COORDINATOR & ROCK SOLID LEAD

Talisa, she/her, has been climbing for several years now yet it was not until 2018 that she fully began to immerse herself into the experience. When she moved to Tucson in 2019, she discovered a larger community of climbers that encouraged the participation more. As her strength, technical skill and relationship with the community grew, so did her knowledge and relationship with herself. Moving through challenges within the sport brought her more into her body teaching her internal knowledge and new levels that continued to fuel the passion. Being able to support other community members in this journey is an experience she loves to be a part of. Having been a part of the Climbing in Color community from as a member, she is excited to now take that one step further and be a team member!

FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR

ROCKS & ROPES LEAD

SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUNTEER

SOCIAL MEDIA VOLUNTEER

MEETUP LEAD VOLUNTEER

MEETUP LEAD VOLUNTEER

MEETUP LEAD VOLUNTEER

MEETUP LEAD VOLUNTEER

MEETUP LEAD VOLUNTEER

FUNDRAISING VOLUNTEER

GRANT WRITER VOLUNTEER